Remember

Saturday

Nov 10, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Our front page story today is one we are proud to share. It is about one veteran – Boylston’s Frank Wooldridge – recognized, and another – West Boylston’s Christian de Marcken – who made that recognition possible, as he has for many others in the past and plans to do for many more in the future.

We’d like you to give this some thought this weekend.

Sunday, Nov. 11, is Veteran’s Day. It started as “Armistice Day” in 1919 as an observance to the end of World War I, which according to the thinking of the day, was the war to end all wars. It wasn’t. The annual observance became a national holiday in 1954, to recognize all Americans who served in war.

Like its beginnings, Veterans Day today is less solemn than Memorial Day, which is to remember those who died in service. But is no less important. Because many who serve do make it home, yet they return with burdens – mentally and physically – few can or try to understand once war has left our collective mind.

According to the Census Bureau, there are more than 21 million veterans living in the United States. Around 3.5 million have some sort of disability. Some issues are certainly far greater than we can ever hope to mitigate. But we, as a nation, must try.

We also believe it is fitting to recognize those who wore the uniform, but who did not go to war. These “peacetime” veterans number over 5 million, according to the census bureau. Their service represents a sacrifice of personal time, that offers little in return. Their service is important as well.

Sometimes, they perform rescue missions. Sometimes they perform reconstruction missions. Sometimes, as the many decades of the Cold War prove, they serve as a deterrent. While not all veterans carry the horrors of combat, all could. Such is the responsibility that comes with the uniform.

Regardless of when they served, it is fitting to take some time on Sunday to give some thought to how this country has achieved all that it has, and what has been required to keep it. However you look at it, people in uniform are in that equation.